What is Autism? Developing an understanding of autism.
As a teacher, I learnt about autism while working with autistic students and studying for my Graduate Diploma in autism studies, but I love to listen to other videos, often by autistic individuals, as everyone brings thier own perspective to telling their story about autism. For this reason, I have included 2 short videos about autism, as well as my understanding of autism.
What is Autism?
Autism is a developmental disorder which has 3 areas of impairment: communication, social skills, and imagination (which often accounts for repetitive behaviours). Although each child shares these 3 common elements, each child has different characteristics and is unique in their individual manifestation of these impairments.
In some children, an impairment may not even be evident initially but may become more evident as the teacher spends time with the student and gets to know the student more. This is why parents are the 'go to' people as they know their child well and they can provided professionals with useful information.
Many autistic students' impairments are not physically evident and, because they look like any other child, the community may show intolerance when an autistic child has a meltdown in the community, or exhibits a socially inappropriate behaviour.
Autism often occurs with co-morbidities, such as dyslexia, ADHD, ADD, OCD, ODD, Specific Learning Difficulties. Therefore, teachers in mainstream settings and special education setting, need to seek out new knowledge in order to understand and plan for their students. Parents deserve a special mention as they have to develop coping skills, lots of new knowledge, sleepless nights and I have seen them persist in difficult times, support professionals and their child, and give up a lot of their luxuries and personal time through their dedication to their child.
I hope you have found this post valuable. Please Like or Share my post now.
I also have another blog that you may like to visit www.theautismteachingblog.com
Product Review
Some autistic chiildren find sensory socks or suits very calming and seek them out throughout the day. Find this product in the Calming Room.
The Cozy Caterpillar™ Body Sock features a unique tube design that is different from a traditional body sock. The Cozy Caterpillar provides deep pressure from the shoulders down creating a large compression tube for your clients. With an open end on both sides, this compression sock is both safe and easy to use. Now you can provide calming pressure and improve focus for clients struggling with anxiety, attention or sensory challenges. To use, just stretch the sock up and around the shoulders and over the knees or even down to the feet. When not in use, your client can gather the sock around their waist like a sash so it is ready when they need it. Therapists will appreciate the triple stitched spandex, making this product highly durable. Sizes (choose by weight of client) XS 22-45 lbs S 46-70 lbs M 71-110 lbs L 111-160 lbs XL 161 lbs and over
